[maple_leaf_eh]

I have applied for my father's papers, and am waiting. The usual $5 fee is deceiving. There is a cooling off period before all records will be released. I don't know who is being protected because reputations are often based of feelings not fact. The other restriction is who gets to submit the request. Not all heirs and successors are equal. I am my father's executor, but my siblings have no such legal authority and would not get as much information.

I am also not sure I will receive every document with his name on it. I suspect my father had a mental illness episode at some point during his service. The outcome I know was losing a command and some form of disciplinary proceedings. His medical records are the one thing I'd most like to have. But I'd be surprised if he was seen by an MO at all, and doubt the chain of command created such records. Any commentary could be masked in performance appraisals and letters on file from superiors. I just won't know until I see the contents of his personnel file.